Let Your Voice Be Heard!

Although details are not final, City of Tulsa elected officials are exploring project possibilities for a potential $917.9 million capital improvement funding package that would go to voters this November. Funding sources include extensions of third-penny and 0.167-cent sales taxes and issuance of general obligation bonds. Projects would include street repairs, other street-related projects and capital needs such as facility repairs. This new funding package will replace the previous 2008 Fix Our Streets program, which expires in 2014.

The renovation of Central Library is currently listed for as a potential project for this funding package and would receive $10 million. The projected total cost of Central’s renovation is $47.8 million, half of which will come from private donations. Tulsa City-County Library is committed to a public-private funding mix for this important project.

However, the list of projects for the City’s funding package has not been finalized so it is important that residents share their passion about our community’s need for a modern, 21st century library.

GET INVOLVED

You have a voice so make it heard! Here ways to do so by contacting your City Councilor and attending public input meetings to share your feelings about the importance of a modern Central Library for Tulsa.

I'll be glad to vote to improve the City of Tulsa and for a Central Library renovation. I want to see our Central Library move into the 21st century with a new updated facility and the latest in technology to serve all of the citizens of Tulsa. Way to go, TCCL!

Hi Jana, We agree study areas are important for solo and one-on-one as well as small group work sessions! After the renovation, Central Library will have these spaces available to our customers. We are planning four small-group meeting rooms (on the 2nd and 3rd floors) and six to eight smaller enclosed spaces (on 2nd floor) that can be comfortably used by one to two people. While typewriters aren't in our plans, the rooms will have tables and chairs, access to free WiFi and good electrical outlets. The small-group meeting rooms will also provide access to mobile touch-screen devices, similar to today's smart boards, to which participants can connect their own mobile devices for collaboration work. In addition to these actual by-reservation spaces, Central Library will provide good open-area research space on the 3rd floor with the Research Center as well as a computer lab that, when not in use for classes, may be available for small-group collaboration and one-on-one meetings when participants may not have their own computer equipment. Today, we already provide access to small meeting spaces at our Martin and Hardesty Regional Libraries. Thanks for your input -- we're right on track with your suggestion!

I am from a small town in Indiana and at our city library there were private study rooms that were excellent for working on research papers, quiet reading and computer use; there were even still some electric typewriters. They were by reservation and very small but the tables were still big enough to fit a couple of open books open. I would love to see such study areas available for students here in Tulsa.